Electric interlock for elevator doors



May 21, .1929. R. s. PEELLE ELECTRIC INTERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR -DOQRS Filed April 27, 1928 llllff/ll/l/ll/ Z; ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. PEELLE, OF HOLLIS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEELLE COMPANY. OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION. OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC INTER-LOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS.

Application filed. April 27,

My invention relates to electric interlocks for elevator doors, and more particularly to a construction in which the interlock acts to positively prevent the release of the door look at all times eitceptin when an elevator car is at a landing closed by the door in connection with which the interlock is used.

Heretofore it has been a common practice to use electric interlocks for the purpose of preventing the application of power to the motor for actuating the elevator, until all elevator doors in a shaft are closed and me chanieally locked. Such interlocks have also been made, having a movable contact car rying member which, when the door is fully closed, will mechanically interlock with a member operative upon t e door lock so as to prevent the release of the lock to premit opening of the doors unless such movement of the lock is accompanied by a positive meehanical movement of the movable member of the interlock to interrupt the circuit controlled thereby.

This construction is designed to prevent an elevator operator blocking the interlock in a position where, notwithstanding the actuation of the door lock and the opening of the door, power may still be applied to the elevator motor.

In all electric interlock structures heretofore used, the function of the interlock was solely to control the power to the elevator motor, suitable safeguards in some instances being provided to ensure a proper actuation of the interlock in the performance of this function.

\Vith the above conditions in mind, I have provided an electric interlock mechanism which, in the usual manner, may be actuated by the locking mechanism of the elevator doors to control the application of power to the elevator motor, but which, in addition thereto, is so constructed as to place the lock 1" or the elevator door under the control of an electric interlock and permit the actuation of the door lock to permit the opening of a door, and of the interlock itself, only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by the particular door with which the interlock is associated.

By this construction, I not only add all of the safeguards attendant upon the use of the ordinary interlock and of the special interlock which is mechanically connected with 1928. Serial No. 273,350.

the door lock when the doors are closed, but provide the additional safeguard of positively preventing the actuation of the lock or of the interlock unless a car is properly positioned with its platform substantially llush with the sill of a door opening.

By this construction it is possible, when desired, to provide means whereby the door lock may be actuated from either the shaft or the floor side of the doors, thus particularly adapting the invention to use upon doors closing a shaft opening in which the elevator car is operated without an attendant within the car, a type of installation which is coming into more general use at the present time. The actuation of the lock of the door from the floor side, is made possible solely from the fact that the locking mechanism is controlled through the electric interlock mechanism and can be actuated only when the elevator car is so positioned as to operate upon the interlock mechanism in a manner to permit not only its actuation, but that of the elevator door lock as well.

The invention consists primarly in an electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable contact actuating member, co-operating interlocking devices carried. by said member and said look ing mechanism, whereby the setting or the ase of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member, means normally preventing movement of said member and said locking mechanism, and means operative upon said last named means and engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and to impart movement to said member oiily when an elevator ear is at the landing closed by said door; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a condensed View from the shaft side of an elevator door equipped with an electric interlock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section adjacent the side of the door at which the interlock is mounted; and

Fig. 4; is a vertical section at the meeting line of the two door sections showing the construction permitting the release of the locking mechanism and the actuation oi the interlock under proper conditions, "from the floor side of the door.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in connection with an oldand well known type of countcrbalanced elevator door which includes oppositely and vertically slidable sections, the upper section being shown at and the lower section at 11. The guide rail structure at one side 01 the door opening is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, this StltlCtlll'G consisting of the usual wall angle 12 and guide angle 13.

Each door section provided with the usual lame angle 14 and usual shoes such as 15 co-operating with the guide structure in the usual manner.

A more detailed description of the door structure proper need not be entered into as such is old and well known in the art to which this invention relates. Sullice it to say that in the doors of the type above re- -ferred to, flexible connections extend from adjacent the top of the lower section about suitable sheaves on the guide rail structure to adjacent the bottom of the upper section, such not being shown in the drawings.

The above detail is mentioned in order to make it apparent that a locking mechanism carried by one section operative upon the other section, or carried by either section cooperating with the guide rail structure, may

be ei'lectively usedto prevent the opening of the door except when desired.

My present invention is not limited to any particular construction of locking mechanism so long this mechanism includes a laterally extending member which, by ongagement with a movable contact carrying men'iber of the electric interlock proper, will prevent the actuation of the locking mechanism in either setting or releasing same, un less accompanied by an actuation of the movable contact carrying member of the interlock proper to close the circuit to the elevator actuating motor, or interrupt this circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the invention in connection with a well known type of center lock which consists of; a hooked latch member and its actuat-ing handle 16, carried by the upper door section 10 in engageable relation with the top bar structure of the lower door section 11. This member 16 has connected therewith a laterally extended slide 17.

The interlock mechanism proper includes a pivotal member 18, mounted in a suitable housing 19, said member 18 and the slide 17 of the locking mechanism being provided with cooperating interlocking devices eonsisting of the hook 21 on the slide 17, and the projecting hooked end 20 upon the member 18, see Fig. 1.

lVhen the locking mechanism is set to hold the doors in the closed position, the de- Vices 20 and 21 are mechanically interlocked so that the locking mechanism cannot be actuated to permit the disengagement of the latch 16 from the door section 11 unless the movement 01 said latch member is accom panied by a movement of the member 18, which carries the move le contact 22 of the interlock proper. This contact member 22 is a bridge contact co-operating with fixed contacts 28 ant of said mechanism, which arrange nent is old and well known in the art.

The housing 19 is provided with the usual striker member for ensuring the actuation 01 the slide 17 and the latch 16 upon the closing movement of the door to ensure the proper engagement of the latch member 16 with the top bar structure of the lower door section 11, and of the hook 21 upon the slide 17 with the hooked end 20 of the member 18.

The means for ensuring a proper position ing or the member 18, following the actuation of the slide 17, are old and well known in this art and need not be described. In fact, all of the mechanisms heretofore described form no part of the present invention, except in combination with other controlling mechanisms which will ensure a new mode of operation thereof as a result of their functioning being determined by the position of the elevator car in relation thereto.

While these mechanisi will prevent the blocking of the member 18 so as to prevent the interruption or the circuit controlled thereby with the release of the locking mech anism, no means are provided by which the actuation of such mechanisms is controlled by the position of the car itself. So long as the operator of a car can reach the locking mechanism, the doors may be opened or closed. lVith this construction alone, it is impossible to provide i'neans accessible from the floor side 01 the door whereby the locking mechanism may be released without the possibility of the doors being opened when the elevator car is not at the landing of the opening closed thereby.

By means of the interlock construction of my present invention, while the functioning of the interlock proper and the latch mechanism, so far as an assured simultaneous action thereof is concerner, is the same as heretofore, the timing of such actuation is under the control of the elevator car, it bethe lever 29.

ing impossible to actuate the locking mechanism or the interlock proper except when a car is at the landing of the door opening, the doors of which it is desired to open. This condition permits the use of an uncontrolled releasing mechanism for the lock mechanism, operable from the floor side of the doors without any possibility of the doors being opened except when a car'is in the proper position in relation to the land- 111g.

In securing the above results, I provide means normally preventingmovement of the member 18 and of the latch member 16 consisting of a lateral extension or heel 26 carried by and movable with the member 18, and a pivotal locking member 27 carried by the housing 19 in engaging relation with the extension 26. This member 27 is normally projected by a spring 28 into the path of movement of the projection 26 with the member 18, outwardly of the housing 19, without which movement the latch 16 cannot be released.

Operative upon the member 27 is a rocking lever 29, pivoted at 30 upon the housing 19, and pivoted to said member 27 at 31.

Carried by the lever 29 is an adjustable arm 32 carrying an impact roller 33, engageable by a cam 34 which is carried by the elevator car. The arm 32 is adjustable in relation to the lever 29 by means of set screws 32 and 32 carried by said arm and bearing against shoulders upon the end of The cam 34 may be a fixed cam or a receding cam as desired, both forms of such cams being common in the elevator door art.

It will be noted that the member 27 is a mere restraining member acting to prevent movement of the contact actuating member 18 by being interposed in the path of movement of the projection or heel 26 carried by said member. Consequently, the actuation oi the lever 29 by the cam 34, in the event that a fixed cam is used, has no operative eliect excepting to momentarily create a conditi on where the locking mechanism may be actuated to permit movement of the door sections. If the locking mechanism is not so actuated, the member 27 is immediately restored to its operative relation to the cooperating means 26 with the passing of the cam 34 out of the operative relation to the impact roller 33. With the stoppage of the car, however, with the cam 34 engaged with said roller, the member 18 is permitted to have movement, and consequently the looking mechanism may be actuated.

The above condition permits the utilization olf a locking mechanism actuating means accessible from the floor side of the door. This means, in the form of the invention shown, consists merely of a pivoted lever 35, mounted upon a bracket 36 carried by an astragal 37 of the upper door section, the end 38 of this lever projecting between the two door sections into engaging relation with the latch member 16. The lever has an operating handle 39.

It will be noted that When the cam 34 is not operatively engaged with the roller 33,

a roller being used merely because of its anti-friction properties, the member 27, acting through the member 18, the interlocking devices 20 and 21, the slide 17 and the latch member 16, will prevent movement of the member 35 sufiicient to release the locking mechanism and permit the opening of the door.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows In the accompanying drawings, a door is shown in the closed position, the latch member 16 upon the door section 10 engaging the keeper portion upon the lower section 11, so as to prevent the separation of the sections. When the locking mechanism is thus set, the slide 17 is projected laterally to the full extent so as to act upon the pivotal member 18 in a manner to maintain the engagement of the contact 22 with the contacts 23 and 24: to close the circuit controlled thereby.

Hence power can be applied to the elevator cars assuming that all other doors in the shaft are closed with their various parts in the same relation as described.

It will be noted that when the parts are in this position, the devices 20 and 21 are mechanically interlocked, and that the spring 28 maintains the member 27 in a position where the lower end thereof is interposed in the path of movement of the extension or heel 26 upon the member 18.

\Vith this condition, suflicient movement of the latch member 16 to disengage it from its keeper is prevented as a result of the interlocking relation of the devices 20 and 21, and the restraint placed upon the pivotal no movement of the member 18 by the member 27. As'a consequence, the locking mechanism cannot be released to permit the opening of the door. In other words, while the locking mechanism is relied upon to control 115 the functioning of the circuit controlling means of the electric interlock, the construction and arrangement of parts of this interlock are such as to normally prevent the release of the locking mechanism except when a car is at the landing closed by the door.

lVhen a car is brought to the fioor at which a door is located and comes to the proper position in relation to the door opening, the cam 34, by engagement with the roller 33, will oscillate the lever 29 and therethrough the member 27, moving this member against the tension of the spring 28 to an extent to move the lower end thereof out of the path of movement of the extension or heel 26. \Vhen this condition is tablished, the locking mechanism may released so as to permit the separation of the doors, the slide 17, however, being so actuated as a result of this releasing action of the locking mechanism as to move from the housing 19, and durin g this movement to draw the pivotal member 18 outwardly of said housing as a result of the mechanical interlocking relation of the devices 20 and 21, the movement of said member being sullicient to disengage the contact 22 from the contacts 23 and 2 1. This will interrupt the circuit controlled by these contacts, in which circuit the motor for actuating the elevator is inchided.

As the doors are opened, the slide 17 will pass out of the range of the opening in the housing 19 through which it passes to engage the member 18, the height of the opening in the housing 19 being such as to prevent the slide 17 rc-passing thercthrough \r'l'tllOllb a resetting of the locking mechanism.

Since power cannotbe applied to the car while the contacts 22, 23 and 2% are disengaged, the cam or shoe 3% will remain in its engaging relation with the roller 33 to maintain the parts above described so long as the door is open. lVhen closing the doors, the end of the shde 17, by engagement with the striker plate 25, will be brought to a position where the latch member 16 is in engaging position with its keeper upon the section 11, and the end of the slide 17 is in register with the opening through the housing 1!), at which time the interlocking devices 20 and 21 will be in engaging relation with each other.

\Vhen these parts are in this position, the slide 17 will be automatically moved into engageablc relation with the member 18, and will actuate this l'i'lGlIllJLl so to close the contacts 23 and 24-. \Vhen the contacts are so closed, power may be applied to the car, and following the initial upward or downward movement thereof, the cam or shoe 3% will pass out of its engaging relation with the roller 33 and thus permit the spring 28 to project the lower end of the member 27 into the path of movement of the extension or heel 26 ot the member 18, and cause the interlock to place a positive restraint upon the actuation of the locking mechanism so long as the parts remain in this position.

The foregoing description is based upon the assumption that there is an attendant upon the elevator car, but it the elevator installation includes what is known as hall controls by which the car may be actuated without the presence of an attendant in the car, it is necessary to actuate the locking mechanism from the floor side of the door.

This may be done by means of the lever 35,

the oscillation of which will actuate the latch member 16 in the same manner as tl'iough this member were actuated from the shaft side 01 the door. It will be noted that the same conditions which prevent the actuation ot the locking mechanism from the shaft side of the door except when the cam or shoe 34 is in engaging relation with the roller 33, will prevent the actuation oi: the lever 35 from the floor side of the door so that this lever 35 may be included in the door structure with the full assurance that the door cannot be opened unless a car at the landing closed thereby.

lVhen the locking mechanism is actuated from the shatt side, the control of this mechanism by the interlock is a mere incidental feature to guard against the tendency of the elevator attendant to release the lock while the car is still in motion and thus prematurely interrupt the circuit to the car motor. The condition as to the locking mechanism actuating means accessible from the floor side ot the door is entirely diil'erout, since were it not for the control of the locking mechanism by the interlock, the door might be opened at any time and thus introduce hazards not only due to the opening of the door, but to the mnvarranted interruption oi the power to the elevator car.

I believe that the placing of the locking mechanism of the car under the control of an electric interlock mechanism is broadly novel, irrespective of the detailed construction of the lock mechanism. lVhile a center lock mechanisi' is shown in the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to this construction of lock mechanism.

In fact, in the construction shown, the slide 17, by the engagement of its upper face with the top of the opening through the housing 19, itself acts as a sliding lock very similar to one type of old and well known elevator door lock.

It is likewise immaterial whether the looking mechanism be placed upon the upper or the lower section, since in elevator doors of the type in connection with which my invention is used, it is merely necessary to lock one of the door sections, since the weight of these doors is such as to prevent the opening of the door so long as one of the sections is locked. This is due to the fact that the two sections are connected in the manner above described, and the weight of one section is required to counterbalance the weight of the other section.

The use of single panel doors in elevator shafts is so infrequent that the use of the invention in connection with such requires little consideration, but itis obvious that the invention may be readily adapted to a door of this typeit' desired, without departing from any of its essential characteristics.

It is therefore not my intention, to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable contact actuating member, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member, means normally preventing movement of said member and said locking mechanism, and means operative upon said last named means and engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door.

2. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type'including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail'therefor, embodIving therein a locking mechanism for said oor sections, a movable contact actuating member having an extension or heel thereon, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism Will impart positive movement to said member, a locking member co-operating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said member and said locking mechanism is nor mally prevented, and means operative upon said locking member and engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and to impart movement to said membervonly when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door.

3. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable contact actuating member, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member. means normally preventing movement of said member and said locking mechanism, means operative upon said last named means and engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door, and locking mechanism actuating means accessible from the floor side of the door.

4. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable contact act-- uating member having an extension or heel thereon, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member, a locking member co-operating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said member and said locking mechanism is normally prevented, means operative upon said locking member and enga-geable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door, and locking mechanism actuating means accessible from the floor side of the door.

5. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable contact actuating member having an extension or heel thereon, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member, a pivotal locking member co-operating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said member and said locking mechanism is normally prevented, and a lever one arm of which is operatively connected with said pivotal locking member, and the other arm of which has an impact member thereon engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door.

6. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a locking mechanism for said door sections, a movable con tact actuating member having an extension or heel thereon, co-operating interlocking devices carried by said member and said locking mechanism, whereby the setting or the release of said locking mechanism will impart positive movement to said member, a pivotal locking member co-operating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said member and said locking mechanism is normally prevented, a lever one arm of which is operatively connected with said pivotal locking member, and the other arm of which has an impact member thereon engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door, and. locking mechanism actuating means accessible from the floor side of the door.

7. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and vertically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a pivoted latch member upon one of said door sections, a keeper upon the other of said door sections co-o ierating therewith, a slide having a hook thereon operatively connected with said latch member, a movable contact actuating member having an extension or heel thereon, and having a projecting hooked end co-operating with the hook upon said slide, whereby the setting or the release of said latch member will impart positive movement to said contact actuating member, a pivotal locking member co-opcrating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said contact actuating member and said latch member is normally prevented, and a lever one arm of which is operatively connected with said pivotal locking member, and the other arm of which has an impact member thereon engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door.

8. An electric interlock for elevator doors of the type including oppositely and Ver tically slidable sections and a guide rail therefor, embodying therein a pivoted latch member upon one of said door sections, a keeper upon the other of said door sections co-operating therewith, a slide having a hook thereon operatively connected with said latch member, a movable contact actuating member having an extension or heel thereon, and having a projecting hooked end co-operating with the hook upon said slide, whereby the setting or the release of said latch member will impart positive movement to said contact actuating member, a pivotal locking member co-operating with said extension or heel, whereby movement of said contact actuating member and said latch member is normally prevented, a lever one arm of which is operatively connected with said pivotal locking member, and the other arm of which has an impact member thereon engageable by a member upon an elevator car, whereby said locking mechanism may be actuated to permit the opening of the door to impart movement to said member only when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door, and means accessible from the floor side of the door and operative upon said latch member, whereby when an elevator car is at the landing closed by said door said latch mechanism and said slide may be actuated to permit the opening of the door and cause the opening of the circuitcontrolled by said movable contact actuating member.

In witness whereoi I have hereunto atfixed my signature this 25th day of April,

ROBERT S. PEELLE. 

